Labour has demanded that the SNP urgently set out whether it plans to cut Police Scotland’s budget, arguing that the force is already buckling under the weight of a costly investigation into the party’s own finances. Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour’s justice spokeswoman, said the “dire state of the country’s finances as a result of SNP incompetence” meant that without a clear answer, taxpayers would be left footing the bill for the actions of senior SNP figures while communities become less safe.
Operation Branchform: a £2.7 million strain on police resources
Police Scotland has spent more than £2.17 million on Operation Branchform, the investigation into the SNP’s finances, as of 30 April 2026. That figure does not include pension contributions for officers or costs incurred separately by the Crown Office – meaning the total public cost of the probe has been reported at nearly £2.7 million. The investigation, launched in July 2021 and concluded in March 2025, lasted almost four years. It centred on allegations that approximately £666,953 raised by the SNP since 2017 specifically for independence campaigning had been improperly diverted to other party activities, including scrutiny of a £107,620 loan from Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband and former SNP chief executive, which was reportedly declared late to the Electoral Commission.
The bulk of the police costs came from officer salaries – £2.1 million – with overtime payments adding £100,498. Other expenses included £94,927 for police officer overtime, £2,962 for police staff overtime, £7,691 for transport (including flights) and £11,020 for supplies and services. Three senior figures were arrested: Peter Murrell, charged with embezzlement in relation to nearly £460,000 from the party and due to appear in court on Monday; Nicola Sturgeon, arrested in June 2023 and released without charge pending further investigation; and Colin Beattie, the SNP treasurer at the time, arrested in April 2023 and also released without charge.
Police Scotland’s budget: a record allocation under severe pressure
Despite the sums spent on Operation Branchform, the financial pressures on Police Scotland go far wider. For the 2026-27 financial year the force is set to receive over £1.7 billion – a 5 per cent increase on the previous year – yet Chief Constable Jo Farrell has warned that the service cannot sustain further budget pressure without shrinking visible local policing and slowing response times. To simply maintain a “standstill” position in 2026-27, Police Scotland needs an additional £104.9 million to cover unavoidable costs such as pay awards, inflation and higher national insurance contributions. A flat-cash budget would force a recruitment pause and could see officer numbers drop below 15,500 by March 2027.
The force has already lost around 900 officers and 700 staff since its creation in 2013. As of 30 September 2025, there were 16,441 full-time equivalent officers – below the 16,500 target. The Scottish Police Federation has described policing as at a “critical point”, warning that further underinvestment will come at a cost to officers and communities. Overtime budgets have been cut by 20 per cent and temporary staff released. The Scottish Government, meanwhile, insists it is providing record funding and that Scotland continues to have more officers per capita than England and Wales; a spokesperson said the Chief Constable had confirmed the budget allocation would allow her to prioritise front-line services and maintain officer numbers at 16,500.
However, the investigation’s costs – combined with the force’s existing financial strains – have fuelled questions about whether the SNP can protect the police budget. The probe itself was triggered by seven complaints, including allegations that ring-fenced referendum funds had been used to cover legal costs for Peter Murrell during the Alex Salmond inquiry and for SNP MEP Alyn Smith, as well as concerns over the late declaration of the £107,620 loan. Three senior figures – including SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman and MP Joanna Cherry – resigned from the party’s National Executive Committee in the months before the investigation was announced.
Labour demands clarity as police warn of cuts to frontline services
Pauline McNeill, who has served as an MSP since 1999 and previously held roles including Convener of the Justice Committee and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice, said the SNP must now clarify whether they intend to cut Police Scotland’s budget in the years ahead. “Given the dire state of the country’s finances as a result of SNP incompetence,” she said, “the SNP must urgently clarify whether they intend to make any cuts to Police Scotland budgets in the years ahead.” Her call comes amid allegations of politicisation over the investigation’s duration and media coverage, and with warnings from Chief Constable Jo Farrell that any further reduction in funding would force a retreat from visible local policing. The Scottish Government has not yet directly answered whether it plans to cut the police budget, beyond pointing to the current record funding allocation.
